John Adams
(October 30, 1735- July 4, 1826)
2nd President of the United States
Federalist
Dates of Presidency: March 4,1797 - March 3, 1801
His Vice President: Thomas Jefferson
President John Adams deserves a B- as a Preesident of the United States. Some of the acomplishments and events of his doing which led to this rank are his organizing of new territories such as Mississippi and Indiana, organizing of a navy, establishing of the Library of Congress, and his leadershipship skills which held the country together in its early years. However, there were also some details of mishaps and mistakes made in his presidency such as his picking of the Cabinet, and being said to take little action regaurding the war in France.
Adams had many goals as President due to the country still being in its early stages. He intended on improving country relations, establishing a navy, and improving America's government. One of his primary tasks was to improve the relationship with France who had used them to fight Great Britain. He also intended on expanding the navy to a number of at least 30 ships due to a seemingly likely war with France, which was becoming unavoidable. Adams also wanted another army to be kept during peacetime. both military efforts were approved by Congress. Not long after this, the United States made peace with France. Adams had to deal with the Alien and Sedition Acts as well as the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.
Adams had a Congress whose relationship with Adams varied. He also had his own Cabinet which he chose personally and was questioned greatly about his decisions. Adams replaced Washington's cabinet which consisted of Edmund Randolph, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and William Bradford. He chose a more criticized group than Washington consisting of Timithy Pickering, John Marshall, Oliver Wolcott Jr., Samuel Dexter, James McHenry, Charles Lee, and Benjamin Stoddert. Adams Congress however, frustrated Adams multiple time due to the fact that they continously sent him to France and ignored his advice. However, thoughout his term, Adams and Congress managed to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts which limited immigration and free speech. These act were passed in response to government criticism and the Federalists.
Over the course of John Adams' term, his administration was most challenged by the issue of neutrality and American rights in the water. This was because both England and France were pressuring the United States to fight each other. Previously under Washington, it was wanted to remain neutral. This event probably had the most negative outcome of all tasks under Adams. America ended up fighting both countries although the war with France was known as the Undeclared War because Adams wanted to keep peace. The war was fought behind Adams' back and he was furious. This was negative because the battles were extremely costly. They also made it more difficult for Adams to achieve his goal of creating a better relationship with other countries such as France.
One of president Adams most successful and positive outcomes of the administration was the creation of an American navy. Prior to this action, the naval military was under the control of War Department. The nay was created because Adams realized that a fight with France would occur as much at sea as on land. Adams did however avoid a war due to his sending of delegation to Paris. President Adams also appointed George Washington as commander of the continental army because of his heroic acts shown in previous events.
John Adams had many influencial actions in his time in as President. He made numerous decisions that had a major affect on future Presidents and the way that the government was run. His first influencial and widely felt action was when he was dealing with the Stamp Act of 1765. During which time, he became known as a conspicuous leader of the Massachusetts Whigs. Also in that year he drafted the instructions which were sent to representatives in the Massachusetts legislature, and which served as a model for other towns in drawing up instructions to their representatives. This, was probably the most influential document written by adams while in his term as president. Many of the states in America still use Adams document as an example document for the laws of their representatives. It has continually gone down through the generations and any document that lasts hundreds of years must have been extremely important. That is why John Adams' most influential action as President was the drafting of representative instructions.
As the term of Adams concluded, in the opinion of many, the country was better off. This is for many reasons. The first is that the United States had grown literally as well as mentally. The United States had added the states of Mississippi and Indianna as well as beginning to attemp to take control of more states. The country also had gained intelligence, experience, and confidence over the course of his term. As well as the country growing, there were many other positive outcomes of Adams presidency. Some of such outcomes included the creation of the
Library of Congress. Although Adams may not have been the perfect President, he got the job done and held the country together in its earliest stages. Due to his leadership skills and previously mentioned achievements, John Adams deserves a B- as President
(October 30, 1735- July 4, 1826)
2nd President of the United States
Federalist
Dates of Presidency: March 4,1797 - March 3, 1801
His Vice President: Thomas Jefferson
President John Adams deserves a B- as a Preesident of the United States. Some of the acomplishments and events of his doing which led to this rank are his organizing of new territories such as Mississippi and Indiana, organizing of a navy, establishing of the Library of Congress, and his leadershipship skills which held the country together in its early years. However, there were also some details of mishaps and mistakes made in his presidency such as his picking of the Cabinet, and being said to take little action regaurding the war in France.
Adams had many goals as President due to the country still being in its early stages. He intended on improving country relations, establishing a navy, and improving America's government. One of his primary tasks was to improve the relationship with France who had used them to fight Great Britain. He also intended on expanding the navy to a number of at least 30 ships due to a seemingly likely war with France, which was becoming unavoidable. Adams also wanted another army to be kept during peacetime. both military efforts were approved by Congress. Not long after this, the United States made peace with France. Adams had to deal with the Alien and Sedition Acts as well as the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.
Adams had a Congress whose relationship with Adams varied. He also had his own Cabinet which he chose personally and was questioned greatly about his decisions. Adams replaced Washington's cabinet which consisted of Edmund Randolph, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and William Bradford. He chose a more criticized group than Washington consisting of Timithy Pickering, John Marshall, Oliver Wolcott Jr., Samuel Dexter, James McHenry, Charles Lee, and Benjamin Stoddert. Adams Congress however, frustrated Adams multiple time due to the fact that they continously sent him to France and ignored his advice. However, thoughout his term, Adams and Congress managed to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts which limited immigration and free speech. These act were passed in response to government criticism and the Federalists.
Over the course of John Adams' term, his administration was most challenged by the issue of neutrality and American rights in the water. This was because both England and France were pressuring the United States to fight each other. Previously under Washington, it was wanted to remain neutral. This event probably had the most negative outcome of all tasks under Adams. America ended up fighting both countries although the war with France was known as the Undeclared War because Adams wanted to keep peace. The war was fought behind Adams' back and he was furious. This was negative because the battles were extremely costly. They also made it more difficult for Adams to achieve his goal of creating a better relationship with other countries such as France.
One of president Adams most successful and positive outcomes of the administration was the creation of an American navy. Prior to this action, the naval military was under the control of War Department. The nay was created because Adams realized that a fight with France would occur as much at sea as on land. Adams did however avoid a war due to his sending of delegation to Paris. President Adams also appointed George Washington as commander of the continental army because of his heroic acts shown in previous events.
John Adams had many influencial actions in his time in as President. He made numerous decisions that had a major affect on future Presidents and the way that the government was run. His first influencial and widely felt action was when he was dealing with the Stamp Act of 1765. During which time, he became known as a conspicuous leader of the Massachusetts Whigs. Also in that year he drafted the instructions which were sent to representatives in the Massachusetts legislature, and which served as a model for other towns in drawing up instructions to their representatives. This, was probably the most influential document written by adams while in his term as president. Many of the states in America still use Adams document as an example document for the laws of their representatives. It has continually gone down through the generations and any document that lasts hundreds of years must have been extremely important. That is why John Adams' most influential action as President was the drafting of representative instructions.
As the term of Adams concluded, in the opinion of many, the country was better off. This is for many reasons. The first is that the United States had grown literally as well as mentally. The United States had added the states of Mississippi and Indianna as well as beginning to attemp to take control of more states. The country also had gained intelligence, experience, and confidence over the course of his term. As well as the country growing, there were many other positive outcomes of Adams presidency. Some of such outcomes included the creation of the
Library of Congress. Although Adams may not have been the perfect President, he got the job done and held the country together in its earliest stages. Due to his leadership skills and previously mentioned achievements, John Adams deserves a B- as President
Bibliography:
American Presidents, Life Portraits. 2010. C-Span. 2 February 2010. http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=2
http://armstrong-history.wikispaces.com/file/view/President+John+Adams.pdf
John and Abigail Adams, The American Experience. 2005. PBS Home Programs. 2 February 2010. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/timeline/timeline2.html
John Adams: Administration and Events. Suite101. 2 February 2010. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/presidents_and_first_ladies/111855/2
Studyworld, American Presidents. 2010. Oakwood Publishing. 4 February 2010. http://www.studyworld.com/John_Adams_Critical_Review.htm